Error rate testing of optical data disks

Abstract

In recent years a great number of claims have been made on the bit error rate (BER) requirements and performance specifications of optical data disks. Two major factors are often overlooked. First, the already well-established computer data storage industry cannot accept data reliability which does not meet its minimal standards. Generally accepted are uncorrectable error rates of 10−12. Second, this data reliability performance must be determined at the end of the data's useful life, not when the disk is new. This implies that either test disks are observed over a long period of time or that an acceptable method for accelerating data degradation is used.